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DELIVERED BEFORE 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 



irxnV YEAR'S DA7; 1827. 



BY ROBERTS VAUX. Oo 






" Virtus, repulsje nescia sordidse 

♦' Intaminatis fulgethonoribus." — fforace. 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

H. C. CAREY & I. LEA— CHESNUT STREET. 

1837. 



T 



W 



^5^ 

3^ 



5KERHETT WINTH STBIXT, 

FHIIABEI-FHIA. 



At a meeting of the Historical Society of Penn- 
sylvania, held this first day of January, 18^7, it 
was unanimously 

Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be pre^ 
sented to Roberts Vaux, Esq. for his interesting 
and instructive discourse pronounced this day, and 
that he be requested to furnish a copy for pub- 
lication. 

From the Minutes, 

T. M. PETTIT, 

Recording Secretary. 



A DISCOURSE, 6jc. 



Gentlemen of the Historical Society , 

Your generous estimate of my industry, assigned 
to me a duty, which, with unaffected solicitude and 
distrust of ray qualifications, I come before you to 
perform. 

My venerable and learned predecessor, to whose 
inaugural address we listened with so much instruc- 
tion and pleasure about a year ago, left untouched 
by a master's hand, few, if any topics, which would 
be selected for a discourse on an occasion like the 
present. 

More recently another acute inquirer* has col- 
lected numerous facts of great interest and value 
concerning primitive Pennsylvania, which adorned 
with the resources of his gifted and polished mind, 
have been submitted to our fellow citizens. 

Thus ably anticipated in regard to most of the 
brilliant passages which gave lustre to our early 
annals, I can only ask your indulgence whilst I 
confine myself to an exposition in some detail, of a 
portion of our history, which, though less captivat- 
ing, appears to me to be eminently worthy of re- 
spect and commemoration. 

* Thomas I. Wharton's Annual address before the Penn 
Society, 1826. 



The exalted sense of moral duty — the Christian 
benevolence, and other virtues that were displayed 
in the character and conduct of the Founder toward 
the Indian natives, deserved and have secured for 
that illustrious man, an imperishable renown. His 
great mind was uniformly influenced in his inter- 
course with the aborigines by those immutable prin- 
ciples of justice, which every where, and for all 
purposes must be regarded as fundamental, if human 
exertions are to be ;crowned with noble and per- 
manent results.* 

Long before Penn beheld his intended resting 
place, on the far distant shores of the Atlantic, he 
seems to have contemplated in the wide range of an 
enlightened philanthropy, that he might be instru- 
mental to improve the condition of the natives; as 

* It has recently been suggested, that the honourable pur- 
chase of the land from the Indians by Penn, on his first ar- 
rival in the province, is not entitled to the character of origi- 
nality, and measure of praise heretofore avi^arded in that re- 
spect to the Founder of Pennsylvania. A full inquiry into 
the pretensions of those who colonized other sections of the 
North American continent, to an equality with the uniformly, 
just, and peaceable measures of Penn, has not in the least af- 
fected his claim to the honour so long conferred upon him. It 
is not perhaps generally known, that New Hampshire has had 
the credit for a purchase from the Indians in 1629. [Vide Ap- 
pendix to Belknap's Hist, vol. 1, p. 289.] A late investigation, 
however, has shown that the deed there given by the historian, 
was a forgery, fabricated for the purpose of deciding a tedious 
litigation between the inhabitants of the then province, and 
the claimants under Mason. [Vide Winthrop's Hist, of N 
England, edited by Savage, vol. 1, p. 405-424."] 



in his petition to Charles the second, for a grant of 
land on the American Continent, he declares one of 
his objects in seeking to go there, to be, '^' The glory 
of God, by the civilization of the poor Indians, and 
the conversion of the Gentiles by just and lenient 
measures to the kingdom of Christ.'^ 

The first outline of a constitution for those who 
intended to accompany tlie patriarchal chief to the 
wilderness, was prepared and adopted at London in 
lf)Hl. It was modestly denominated *' certain con- 
ditions or concessions^^' but exhibits some strik- 
ing proofs of intellectual power, and the original de- 
terminations of his judgment concerning tlie mode of 
treatment, which was to be pursued toward the In- 
dians. It thus provided in the 13th, 14th, and 15th 
sections. " No man shall, by any ways or means, 
" in word or deed affront or wrong any Indian, but 
" he shall incur the same penalty of the law as if he 
" had committed it against his fellow planter, and 
" if any Indian shall abuse, in word or deed, any 
<< planter of the province, he shall not be his own 
"judge upon the Indian, but he shall make his com- 
" plaint to the governor or some inferior magistrate 
« near him, who shall to the utmost of his power 
" take care with the king of the said Indian, that 
" all reasonable satisfaction be made to the injured 
" planter. All differences between the planters 
^< and the natives shall also be ended by twelve 
^' men ; that is, by six planters and six natives ; 
^^ that so we may live friendly together as much as 
" in us lieth, preventing all occasions of heart-burn- 



" injs;s and mischiefs," and that " the Indians shall 
" have liberty to do all things relatina; to improve- 
^^ment of their ground, and providing sustenance 
" for their families, that any of the planters shall 
^* enjoy.'' 

These noble aspirations, and wise resolutions, 
never forsook the mind of Penn, and all that could 
be tauglit by precept and by example, was taught 
and shown by this apostle of Christianity and mo- 
rals, to his unenlightened brethren, to produce the 
great and good ends which he so ardently desired 
for them. 

His coming, and the founding of his common- 
wealth — the great principles of religious and civil 
freedom which he promulgated, and established in 
the frame of government, and the various other dis- 
tinguished acts which unquestionably place him on 
the loftiest eminence as a lawgiver, and benefactor 
of mankind, are familiar to you all. 

The territory which he acquired had, however, 
to a certain extent, and for many years previously 
to his accession, been occupied by the Swedes and 
Dutch, and some intercourse had taken place be- 
tween the tribes upon the Delaware, and tbe white 
inhabitants of the northern colonies, who, even at 
that early period, were given to the itinerant pro- 
pensities in quest (»f gain, which distinguish not a 
few of their descendants to the present day. 

The most formidable evil visited upon the In- 
dians, and llowing from this connection with the 
Europeans, was the introduction of ardent spirits. 



9 

That terrible agent, the abuse of which dethrones 
the reason, blasts the fairest promise of intellectual 
power and cultivation, and gives loose to the worst 
tempers of mankind, even when claiming to be the 
subjects of civilized refinement and Christian control, 
did not fail to ensnare the unreflecting Indian, and 
feeding the fiercer passions of his unsubdued nature, 
fitted him for every atrocity, and made him the prey 
of every cruel artifice. The indulgence in the use 
of inebriating draughts had, moreover, the efiect to 
introduce physical maladies, before unknown anjong 
them, and to subject them to outrage and wrong in 
the disposal of their lands and commodities ; in sijort, 
that liquid fire threatened with swift destruction to 
sweep them from the face of the earth. 

To protect the natives from such fearful and fatal 
consequences, the wise and virtuous lawgiver of 
Pennsylvania, saw, on his arrival, the necessity of 
interposing his authority to correct mischiefs which 
bad existed antecedent to his possession of the pro- 
vince ; he therefore, in 1682, thus declared and en- 
acted, that ^' Whereas, divers persons, as English, 
'' Dutch, Swedes, &c. have been want to sell to the 
" Indians rum and brandy, and such like distilled 
^' spirits, though they \iwo\\ the said Indians are not 
"able to govern themselves in the use thereof, but 
"do commonly drink of it to such excess as makes 
" them sometimes to destroy one another, and griev- 
" ously annoy and disquiet the people of this pro- 
" vince, and peradventure those of neighbouring go- 
" vernments, whereby they may make the poor na- 



10 

" tives worse, and not better for coming among them, 
" which is an heinous offence to God, and a reproach 
*^ to the blessed name of Christ and his holy religion. 
"It is therefore enacted, that no person within this 
" province, do from henceforth presume to sell or 
" exchange any rum or brandy, or any strong liquors, 
*' at any time, to any Indian within this province, 
"and if any one shall offend therein, the person 
" so convicted shall for every such offence pay five 
"pounds." 

Our virtuous forefathers who shared with Penn 
the toils and privations inseparable even from their 
peaceful conquest of the wilderness, felt with him a 
debt of gratitude for the kindness extended toward 
them by the aboriginal proprietors of the soil. They 
regarded it as a duty themselves, and enforced the 
obligation upon their descendants, to acknowledge, 
and if possible to extinguish that debt, by generous 
recompence of good will to the Indian race, through 
all future time. Instances of elevation of sentiment 
little to have been expected from the untutored sons 
of the forest — manifestations of sympathy worthy of 
the most refined minds, and deeds of charity perform- 
ed by the natives to mitigate the sufferings of some 
of the first emigrants are well authenticated, and 
fruitful of the tenderest emotion. Not to have re- 
membered these magnanimous traits of their cha- 
racter, and cherished for the authors of such liber- 
ality the strongest sense of the favours conferred, 
would indeed have been to place the civilized far 
lielow the savage man. But our ancestors did not for- 



11 

get the kindnesses of the friendly tribes who dwelt 
upon tiie soil which we now inhabit, and who bade 
them welcome to this land of promise. 

In support of this position it is my design to fur- 
nish such testimony as it has been in my power to 
collect, by some research into the sul>ject. 

To rescue the natives from the destructive vice of 
intemperance, seems to have been a cardinal con- 
cern from the earliest time, and the religious Soci- 
ety of Friends used every eifort to prevent the re- 
proach and consequences of that evil from being 
charged upon them; for notwithstanding the prompt 
and discreet act of legislation by the proprietor, al- 
ready noticed, and which was binding upon every 
inhabitant of the province, it appears that this formi- 
dable grievance claimed the care of their annual 
meeting in ii^85. "This meeting," say they, " doth 
"unanimously agree and give as their judgment, 
"that it is not consistent with the honour of truth, 
*^ for any that make profession thereof, to sell rum 
"or other strong liquors to the Indians." In 168/, 
the substance of fhe preceding recommendation was 
issued by the same body, with this energetic addi- 
tion; "and for the more effectually preventing this 
" evil practice as aforesaid, we advise that this our 
" testimony be entered in every monthly meeting 
" book, and that every friend belonging to the said 
*^ meeting do subscribe the same." 

The most considerate regard for the welfare of 
their Indian neighbours, was uniformly manifested 
by that religious society, then forming a majority of 



i2 

the European population, and they made it a point of 
conscience, frequently in their annual assemblies, to 
recount and record their sense of the offices of 
friendship which they experienced from the natives, 
as imperative reasons why they were required to 
cultivate relations of the purest justice and good 
will, with the aboriginal sons of the soil. 

Jt would have been happy for the Indian race, if 
similar dispositions had influenced all the emigrants 
to Pennsylvania. This, however, was not the case, 
nor was it reasonable to suppose, that the generous 
purposes of the first settlers could be long without 
alloy, when the foundation of the government was 
laid so broad, as to afford room for all, who might 
resort to the province. The novelty of its character 
invited many adventurers, who, induced by motives 
of profit at any sacrifice, came to accomplish their 
unrighteous ends by the impunity of toleration. Of 
this class not a few polluted tlie land which had 
been consecrated to Justice, and Mercy, and Peace. 
But the evil tempers exhibited by those who sought 
their own aggrandisement at the cost of every vir- 
tuous principle, served to animate and enlarge the 
minds of others to perform acts worthy of their high 
calling, and thus present in bold relief the genuine 
and consistent character of the men, who were the 
founders and architects of the honourable fame of 
primitive Pennsylvania. 

It need not be concealed, and it cannot be denied, 
that the fair and serene morning, which dawned so 
full of hope and promise upon our adventurous an- 



13 

cestors, was too soon overcast. Many were the 
wrongs indicted on the primeval inhabitants, by in- 
dividuals who abused the privileges so freely and 
universally guaranteed in the mild structure of the 
government, which was intended not as a protection 
to the oppressor, but as a sanctuary for the op- 
pressed of every condition and clime. 

The discontents which were excited among the 
Indians, through the means employed by the un- 
principled persons to whom I have alluded, induc- 
ed much solicitude in the mind of Penn and his 
friends, who assiduously exerted their authority and 
influence in the legislature, and elsewhere, to pun- 
ish and prevent trespasses upon the acknowledged 
rights of the natives. The paternal care and per- 
sonal oversight of the Founder, which had contri- 
buted so essentially to the best interests of all the 
inhabitants of the province, was unexpectedly ter- 
minated in 1701, when circumstances demanded 
the presence of William Penn in England. This 
was a most painful separation for the shepherd and 
bis flock, as the former retired to leave those who 
were allied to him by the strongest ties of affection, 
exposed to accumulating diflBculties and dangers, on 
every hand. He went — but in the inscrutable eco- 
nomy of Divine Providence, to return no more, to 
his beloved people and country in the western he- 
misphere. 

Although the absence of the proprietary was se- 
verely felt by those who united with him for the 
wholesome administration of the government, and 



14< 

necpssarily interrupted the completion of some judi- 
cious improvements in its affairs, it did not abate 
tiieir efforts to uphold the standard of peace and 
ris;hteousness. To conciliate the confidence and re- 
spect of the Indians, and meliorate their condition, 
remained to be prominent objects of their attention. 
William Penn himself had furnished a bright ex- 
ample of devotion to the best interests of those peo- 
ple, not only in his justice toward them, and by im- 
parting advice when they met him in council at 
Philadelphia, but also by visiting them in their towns 
in distant parts of the province, an office of kindness 
to which he felt himself called, in his character of a 
minister of the gospel. 

Many of his cotemporaries, influenced by the 
same pure motives, often fulfilled similar duties by 
going to the tribes iu the interior, far from the con- 
fines of civilization. A visit of this kind was made 
in 1705, to the Seneca and Shawanese Indians, who 
then occupied the borders of the river Susquehanna, 
by the pious and amiable Thomas Chalkley. Some 
notes of what occurred whilst on this Christian er- 
rand have been preserved, which show that he was 
received with the greatest cordiality and hospitality 
by the natives, many of whom were deeply affected 
by his discourses. It is related that when Chalkley 
and his companions were about to part from the as- 
sembled Indians, an ancient queen, called Ojuncho, 
who is represented to have been a person of distinc- 
tion, and who spoke frequently in their councils, 
thus addressed the venerable minister of peace, — 



15 

** 1 look upon your coming as more than natural, — 
"yoM came not to huy, and sell, and get gain, but 
*^for our good — ive desire the great spirit to keep 
^^ you from harm, on your journey — and ive hid yon 
^'fareweliy The disrernment, and kind feeling 
which dictated this brief but comprehensive speech, 
made a strong impression upon the minds of those 
who lieard it, and led to inquiries of the Indians 
concerning the influence and authority which the 
queen had acquired among them, as it was not their 
custom thus to respect females, to which one of the 
chiefs answered, '^ it is because some women are 
" wiser than some men.'' 

During the short administration of governor Ha- 
milton, who was the first deputy after the return of 
the Founder to England, the government does not 
appear to have adopted any measures relative to the 
Indians ; but, during the rule of his,immediate suc- 
cessor, governor Evans, notice is taken in severe 
terms of certain traders who had gone into their 
country, and behaved in the most reprehensible 
manner. The governor himself was charged with 
unwarrantable conduct toward the natives during a 
visit he made to them in 1707? at Conestogoe, for 
which and other misdemeanors the assembly pre- 
ferred such representations to William Penn, by 
three commissioners sent expressly for that purpose 
to London, as resulted in his dismissal from office, 
and the appointment of governor Gookin to succeed 
him. 

In 1711? when a requisition was made by queen 



16 

Anne for aid from the northern colonies in reference 
to the expedition against Canada, an objection to a 
grant of money for snch purposes necessarily arose 
in the minds of that part of the assembly of Penn- 
sylvania who were conscientiously opposed to war, 
and they asserted as a reason why they should be ex- 
cused from a tax, that the province had contributed, 
and was then expending large sums of money for the 
preservation of the friendship of the Indians, which 
they declared to be of the greatest importance, not 
only to Pennsylvania, but to all the neighbouring 
governments. This fact is in proof of the untiring 
labours of at least a portion of those in authority at 
that period, to maintain amicable relations with the 
natives. 

That the Indians themselves were sensible of the 
pacific dispositions and good designs of those who 
sought their real happiness, and consequently that 
of the white inhabitants of the province, is demon- 
strable from their own declarations. A conference 
was held at Philadelphia in i7id, and attended by 
a large number of Uelawares ; on that occasion, 
Sassoonan, one of their chiefs, said, — 

"The calumet, which we carried to all the na- 
" tions, we have now brought here ; — it is a sure 
" bond of peace amongst them, and between us and 
" you ; — we desire, by holding up our hands, that 
" the God of heaven may witness, that there may 
^' be a firm peace between you and us forever. We 
^^ heard of some murmurs among some of our peo- 
" pie, and to prevent any trouble we come to renew 



^^ our former bond of friendship. When William 
^' Penn first came, he made a clear, and open road, 
"all the way to the Indians; we desire the same 
" may be kept open, that all obstructions may be 
^^ removed, of which, on our side, we will take care. 
" Let the peace be so firm, that you and us, joined 
^f hand in hand, even if the greatest tree falls, it 
" shall not divide us. As our fathers have been in 
" peace, so let us, and our children as they come 
" into the world hereafter, be in peace, that it may 
" be continued from generation to generation, for- 
'^ ever." 

Such were the noble sentiments, the grateful re- 
collections, and the honourable desires, of that high- 
minded race ; and the promulgation of them is the 
more remarkable, because, before the council termi- 
nated, the same chief uttered the complaint of his 
nation, in this fearless and sarcastic strain : '^ I will 
now speak of the trade between you and us. It 
has been like a house with two doors, one for us, 
and one for the English, but the goods were 
placed in the dark, so that we did not know how 
we were dealt with. We want the terms of trade 
settled, so that we may no longer be in danger of 
being cheated. We are often imposed upon by 
the lightness of your money. You certainly know 
the value of ours. I wish this evil put out of the 
way." 

In 1717, Sir William Keith succeeded governor 
Gookin, and proposed some essential changes in the 
conduct of affairs, that had from the beginning dis- 

3 



18 

tiii^uishefl the province. Among thewi, and it can- 
not be too often mentioned to be condemned, was 
the repeal of the most merciful penal code the world 
had ever before known. He also suggested the in- 
stitution of a paper currency, and of consequence 
encouraged a speculative spirit, which is always 
rife in the distemper created by paper credit. These 
attempts at innovation, alarmed the friends and ad- 
herents of the proprietor, and induced much dis- 
cussion between Keith and the representatives of 
the people, in the early part of his administration. 
Whilst these cares and difficulties occupied the at- 
tention of the reflecting part of the inhabitants, an 
overwhelming affliction came upon them, by the 
death of William Penn. Connections were then rent 
asunder, which had united men under circumstances 
before, without a parallel in the history of human 
affairs, and which could not be restored by any 
earthly power. Whilst suffering deeply from the 
irreparable loss which the province had thus expe- 
rienced, intelligence respecting the native tribes, of 
a very serious nature, reached the executive. A. 
body of southern Indians had appeared in hostile 
array against the Five Nations, and had actually 
invaded the settlements on the Susquehanna. Now 
for the first time since the foundation of the colony, 
were its peaceful inhabitants threatened with the 
horrors of war, and it may readily be conceived 
what anxiety the prospectofsnchacalamity awaken- 
ed. The assembly urged governor Keith to pursue 
measures which would secure tranquillity between 



19 

the white people, and their Indian neifi;hbours, as 
well as to use his endeavours to put an end to the 
differences existing between the tribes, who were 
about to begin a bloody conflict, assuring him that 
for the accomplishment of these good ends, the le- 
gislature would vote the most liberal supplies. The 
governor accordingly repaired to Virginia, and made 
satisfactory arrangements with the authorities of that 
government, to restrain the Potomac Indians, and 
after his return, held a treaty at Conestogoe, with 
deputies of the Five Nations. That interview took 
place in IT^^l? and the Indians gave an account of 
the causes which brought about their diflBculties. 
One of the chiefs said, " that all their disorders 
" arose from the use of rum, which took away their 
" sense, and memory — that they had no such liquor 
" among themselves, and were hurt with what the 
" white people brought among them." He spoke 
in the most affectionate terms of William Penn, de- 
nominating him, " The great and good Onas,^' and 
used this figurative language in concluding his re- 
marks. *^ The Five Nations faithfully remember 
" all their ancient treaties, and now desire that the 
" chain of Friendship, may be made so strong, as 
" that none of the links can ever be broken; but as 
" a chain may become rusty, we desire it may now 
^* be so well cleaned, as to remain brighter and 
" stronger than ever it was before." The confer- 
ence was brought to a favourable issue, furnishing 
another instance of the happy effects, which flowed 
from a kind treatment of the natives. 



20 

The repose which these measures had produced, 
was not of long duration, for in the next year a cir- 
cumstance occurred, more unhappy than any which 
had hefore transpired. An Indian was barbarously 
killed in the vicinity of Conestogoe, by a white man. 
This was the first blood wantonly spilled by the 
hand of a European upon the soil of Pennsylvania, 
of which there was any record from its foundation. 
An outrage of so fearful an import, and likely to 
be followed by speedy retaliation, to what extent no 
one could foretell, greatly alarmed the friends of or- 
der and peace, who immediately adopted measures 
to compose the Indians, and secure the due admin- 
istration of justice, u[)on the author of such cruelty. 
James Logrin and John French, two influential mem- 
bers of the council, forthwith proceeded to the scene 
of trouble, and assured the Indians of the abhor- 
rence in which the government held the foul deed 
that had been perpetrated ; they left no means 
unemployed to heal the Mound that had been in- 
flicted on their long friendship, and by causing the 
offender to be arrested, satisfied the relatives of the 
deceased person, that the law should be rigidly en- 
forced. On the return of the commissioners a full 
statement of the affair was submitted to the assembly. 
That body seem to have regarded the condition of 
things as very serious and critical, and was not with- 
out gloomy anticipations, in regard to the future se- 
curity of the province. An address was sent to the 
governor, wiiich presented a concise exposition of 
the sentiments of the assembly on the atflicting oc- 



2i 

casion — brin^^ing to his notice the conduct of the 
Founder, and his associates towards the Indians, 
pressed the necessity of maintaining the ancient 
friendship — recommended the execution of strict 
justice — represented the frequent complaints of the 
natives, that strong liquors were carried and sold 
among them by the traders, &c. — concluding Avith 
these words. *• At the relation of the dismal cir- 
" cumstances, we were filled with horror and sur- 
^^ prise, that after so long continuance of the peace 
" first settled by the honourable proprietary William 
" Penn with the Indians, any breach should be now 
" made by those under the name of Christians, to 
*^ the reproach of that name, and danger of the 
" safety and peace, both of this province and others.'-' 

This impressive communication led to an im- 
mediate conference with the Chiefs of the Five Na- 
tions at Albany, when they were so fully satisfied 
of the sincerity of the government of Pennsylvania 
to do them justice, and prevent or punish all such 
abuses in future, that, remarkable as it may seem, 
the Indians interceded for the murderer, and the dif- 
ficulty was amicably settled. 

The assembly regardful of its duty, and conform- 
ing to the intimation given to the governor, in the 
address before noticed, passed at the next session, 
^^Jlyi act to prohibit the selling of rum, and other 
strong liquors^ to the Indians, and to prevent abuses 
that may happen thereby.*^ 

Individuals of the Society of Friends, who were 
members of the legislature, w ere mainly instrumen- 



2^ 

tal in devising and giving effect to the public mea- 
sures necessary on an occasion of so much moment 
to the peace of the country; and the society as such, 
availed itself of the earliest opportunity, to declare 
its sense of what was due to the Indians, as well as 
to guard its members from any connection with 
causes from which manifestly flowed so much evil 
to the natives, and mischief to the province. 

I cannot refrain from quoting the language era- 
ployed at their annual assembly next ensuing the 
melancholy event that has been noticed. " When," 
(say they,) ** way was made for our worthy friends, 
^' the proprietors and owners of lands in this pro- 
^^ vince, to make their first settlements, it pleased 
" the Almighty God, by his overruling providence, 
" to influence the native Indians, so as to make them 
^< very helpful and serviceable to those early set- 
*< tiers, before they could raise stocks or provisions 
" to sustain themselves and families. And it being 
" soon observed, that those people, when indulging 
" in the use of strong liquors, set no bounds to them- 
'< selves, but were apt to abuse and destroy one an- 
" other, there came a religious care and concern up- 
" on friends, both in their meetings and legislature, 
"to prevent those abuses. Nevertheless some peo- 
" pie preferring their lucre, before the common 
"good, continued in this evil practice, so that our 
"yearly meeting in 1 687, testified that the practice 
" of selling rum, or other strong liquors, to the In- 
^* dians, directly or indirectly, or exchanging the 
^^ same for any goods or merchandize with them is 



as? 

" ilispleasing to the Lord, a dishonour to truth, and 
^* a 2;rief to all good people. And although this tes- 
'' timony hath been since renewed by several yearly 
" meetings, it is yet notorious, that the same hath 
*' not been duly observed by some persons, and 
'' therefore it hath become the weighty concern of 
'■' this meeting, earnestly to recommend the said tes- 
•* timony to the strict observance of all friends, and 
^^ where any under our profession shall act contrary 
" thereunto, let them be speedily dealt with, and 
•* censured for such their evil practice." 

From a root so deleterious as that which gave 
rise to this rebuke and warning, might be expected 
to spring a multitude of wrongs, and it really seems 
to have been the bane of the aborigines. It was on 
that part of the American continent, called New 
England, that the barbarous practice of enslaving 
them had its origin.* It was the theatre of many 
sorrows for that injured race. As far back as IGI^, 
an instance of this cruel kind of outrage upon the 
persons and rights of the natives took place. A no- 

* Among the first laws of the New England colonists it was 
provided, ^'•that none should be bought or sold for slaves, but 
" those who are taken in war^ or made such by authority. ^^ 
The frequent wars which took place between the settlers and 
natives, through a long course of years, must often have sup- 
plied the colonists with prisoners, who by law became slaves, 
and were disposed of as such. After a battle, which occurred 
in the summer of the year 1637, according to Neal, their his- 
torian, about two hundred Indian prisoners fell into the hands 
of the colonists, and suftered the legal consequences of cap- 
tivity. 



S4 

torioiis trader in those parts, one Hunt, seems to 
have been more conspicuous and daring, than most 
of the adventurers of that early period. On a cer- 
tain occasion, after having made some smart bar- 
gains in his traffic with the natives, he enticed about 
thirty of those deluded beings on board his vessel, 
secured them under the hatclies, transported them 
to Malaga, and sold them to the Spaniards.* 

Some individuals thus enslaved, appear to have 
been introduced into Pennsylvania about 17!22, but 
from what causes, or by whom retained in bondage, 
does not appear. Acts of that kind were assured- 
ly in violation of the spirit of the laws and the pub- 
lic faith, and yet I do not discover any other notice 
of the subject than that taken of it by the annual 
meeting of Friends, held at Philadelphia in that 
year. After expressing many kind sentiments con- 
cerning the Indians, they declare, " that to avoid 
^^ giving them discontent, the members of their so- 
" ciety shall not buy or sell Indian slaves.^' 

The population of the province now begun to be 
more mixed by the influx of settlers, not only from 
Europe, but the neighbouring colonies, whose sen- 
timents and habits were alien from the principles 
and practice of the first emigrants, and thus were 
sown the seeds of disaffection, which afterwards 
produced serious difficulties with the Indians. In 
1727? the deputies of the Five Nations, complained 
at a council held with governor Gordon, of the un- 

* Vide Neal's History of New England. London edition. 

1747. 



25 

fair dealing and brutal conduct of the traders, who 
had greatly increased in their country. Then for 
the first time they expressed their fears at the erec- 
tion of forts by the English and French within 
their acknowledged territory, and desired that the 
white people should not be permitted to reside be- 
yond certain points, which they designated. In the 
following year, at a c(tnference in Philadelphia, 
further discontents were manifested, and although 
the governor was present, and according to the ce- 
remony at such interviews, should have been ad- 
dressed by the Indian chief, it appears that Sas- 
soonan approached James Logan, their well-known 
and constant friend, and said, '^ I am grown old, 
"and am troubled to seethe Christians settle on 
"lands that the Indians never were paid for. I am 
"now old, and must soon die. My children will 
^^ wonder to see all their father's land gone without 
"receiving any thing for it. The Christians are 
*^ settling very near to us, and we shall soon have 
" no place of our own left to live upon. This may 
"occasion a difference between my children and 
" yours, and I wish to prevent any misunderstand- 
" ing that may happen." This affecting appeal pro- 
duced an examination of the deeds given at several 
of the early treaties for the purchase of their land, 
in order to ascertain the justness of the charge of 
the ancient chief, from which it appeared, that en- 
croachments had been made, though not by any di- 
rect authority of the proprietaries. A portion of the 
spirit of justice and peace, which was so eminently 

4 



S6 

displayed in the transactions of the Founder with 
the natives, still influenced the legislature of the 
province, and this occasion was embraced to urge 
the governor to pursue measures for the removal of 
the causes which dissatisfied the Indians. 

In 1732, Thomas Penn, one of the proprietaries, 
arrived from England. His presence was hailed 
with joy by such of the inhabitants as felt a deep 
interest in the honour and welfare of the province, 
because they hoped he might contribute to allay the 
feverish mood which had arisen from various sources, 
but more especially those which threatened to im- 
pair the harmony, that, from the days of his illus- 
trious father, had been preserved between them- 
selves and the natives. Several imjjortant questions 
were then discussed, and among others, the boun- 
dary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, a 
survey of which was made and confirmed by the 
parties interested. The proprietor had several meet- 
ings with the Indians, in order to arrange their land 
affairs, which, however, did not result to their sa- 
tisfaction. He also, with a view to raise money, de- 
vised a lottery for the disposal of one hundred thou- 
sand acres of land. This was an original attempt 
to introduce legalized gambling into Pennsylvania, 
and though the mischievous plan was frustrated, 
the mere proposition, seriously, and with good rea- 
son, impaired the confidence which some of the peo- 
ple of the province had been wont to repose in the 
proprietary. 

Part of the land selected for prizes in the con 



S7 

templated raffle, lay within the region claimed bj 
the natives, who, on being apprized of the fact, ut- 
tered loud complaints, and for tlie first time threat- 
ened to resist any invasion of their territory. Tho- 
mas Penn's visit to the province, certainly did not 
contribute to strengthen the friendship of the In- 
dians, and when he returned to England in ly'i'l; 
the assembly, in addressing him, said, "whatever 
** diflPerences of opinion may have happened between 
" us, we hope thou wilt believe the freemen of the 
*^ province retain a proper regard lor the proprie- 
" tary," &c. ; plainly showing that a disagreement 
had existed, and that their separation was nut on 
the cordial terms of their meeting. 

John Penn, the eldest of the proprietaries, and 
who was, moreover, born in the province, made a 
visit to it in I7SL He remained only a year, and 
does not appear to have taken any prominent part 
in the aflTairs of that period. It is probable that he 
did not approve his brother's measures, as the as- 
sembly took leave of him with evident regret in 
these words. " The humility, justice, and benevo- 
'^ lence which has appeared in thy conduct since 
*^ thy arrival here, has very deservedly gained thee 
'' the esteem and affection of the people, and we do 
*^ with truth say, thy leaving us at this time, gives 
'^ an universal concern to the inhabitants of this pro- 
^^vince." They also expressed a hope that they 
might soon have the happiness of seeing him ^^ re- 
" turn, a blessing to his native country.'^ In this, 
however, they were disappointed, as he died in 
England in 174<6. 



^8 

Of the surviving members of the proprietary's fa- 
mily who had an interest in the province, I would 
desire to speak with due respect; but the fidelity of 
history must not be renounced to screen from cen- 
sure even the immediate offspring of the Foun<ler, if 
it can be shown that they departed from the bright 
path in which their father had walked. 

My purpose is not to judge them so harshly as to 
attribute to them, or their agents in the province, all 
the unhappy misunderstandings with the natives, 
which gradually led to hostilities, after a peace 
of seventy years. I know that causes were silently 
operating, and effects becoming manifest, which 
were beyond their control ; but without breach of 
charity or truth, it may be asserted that they fre- 
quently preferred pecuniary advantages to a regard 
for the principles which animated their honourable 
parent, even with the consequent reward of *^ diira- 
" Me riches and righteousness.^^ ^^ If my heirs do 
" not keep to God, in the justice, mercy, equity, and 
^^fear of the Lord, they will lose all, and desolation 
" ivillfolloiv,^' a memorable sentiment of the Foun- 
der, expressed in 1682, was of prophetic import, and 
has certainly been fulfilled as it respects their pro- 
perty and rule in Pennsylvania.* 

* It is a remarkable fact, that none of the children, or other 
descendants of the Founder of Pennsylvania who had an interest 
in the province after his death, were members of the Religious 
Society of which their great progenitor was so distinguished an 
ornament. This circumstance is not related to convey the least 
unfavourable opinion of any other Christian denomination, as 
the writer humbly trusts, that his mind is uninfluenced by bigo* 
try. 



29 

Avarice is a eirovellin^ passion thatdid notdegrade 
that portion of the human family by some denomi- 
nated savages f at any rate not those tribes with whom 
our ancestors had intercourse. Ambition and sordid 
interest formed no part of their character. An In- 
dian who once inquired what the Christians intend- 
ed to convey by the word covetousness, on being 
told that it signified a desire of more than a man had 
need of, exclaimed, " that is a strange thing.^^ Is 
it then marvellous that they should be offend- 
ed, when they saw a disposition in the Europeans 
to overrun their possessions, and to compass gain at 
any sacrifice ? Disgust and contempt were the 
emotions produced in their minds by observing 
that desire for gold which, by this time, it was too 
evident was the ruling motive of many of the emi- 
grants ; and at every conference with the Indians, 
from 1741) down to i^^^, they avowed their opi- 
nions on this point, and fearlessly contended for 
the preservation of their departing rights. I will 
not detain you by attempting even a sketch of In- 
dian history through the period of fourteen years, 
to which I have alluded. It will form an important 
page in our annals, and should be examined and de- 
veloped with great moral courage, and equitable 
circumspection. It is sufficient for my purpose to 
remark, that the transactions of that time establish 
the fact, that those who felt obligations of gratitude 
toward the natives, pursued one consistent course, 
and laboured with conscientious zeal to secure for 
them a full measure of justice, at the hands of those, 
who then administered the government. 



30 

It is my duty here to notice an accession of valu- 
able emigrants to the province, which occurred in 
1740. In that year the Moravian brethren, led by 
Count Zinzindorf, for the more perfect enjoyment 
of civil and religious privileges, found an asylum in 
Pennsylvania, and commenced their well known 
settlements at Nazareth and Bethlehem, a part of 
the country then only inhabited by tribes of Indians. 
They devoted themselves in a remarkable manner, 
for the improvement of the condition of the abo- 
rigines, by inculcating the indestructible truths of 
the Gospel, to the consolations of which they were 
instrumental to bring the minds of many of the na- 
tives ; they also succeeded in giving some of that 
race a relish for the comforts of civilized life, and a 
proper estimate of the benefits of agricultural pur- 
suits. The Indians uniformly found them to be ju- 
dicious advisers, and firm friends, and they co-ope- 
rated with that part of the Europeans who preceded 
them here, in anxious and assiduous efforts, to pro- 
tect the natives from injustice. The unity of the 
object of this address, and the limited space allow- 
ed, compel me to be thus brief in noticing the cha- 
racter and services of that excellent body of people. 
This is the more admissible, as the labours of Los- 
kiel, and, more recently, those of the venerable 
Heckewelder, have already made generally known 
the obligations under which humanity lies, to those 
indefatigable and unpretending votaries of Chris- 
tianity. 

Near the close of the year 1754, it was observ- 
ed that movements among the Indians indicated the 



31 

approach of more formidable difficulties, than had 
heretofore arisen. Messengers were frequently 
passing between tribes remotely situated, and the 
French were using their influence to alienate the 
Delawares from their ancient friends of Pennsylva- 
nia, whilst the injuries they complained of on ac- 
count of their lands, and the wrongs inflicted on 
them by the traders, contributed to make them an 
easier prey to the accomplished diplomacy of the 
agents of France. The executive of the province, 
if watchful of the ^^ signs of the times/' manifested 
no inclination to secure the good will of the Indians 
residing within its borders, by removing the causes 
of discontent, but adopted various measures of de- 
fence against the French, which the natives regard- 
ed as preparations for a war with them. 

This state of things was contemplated with deep 
regret by that part of the inhabitants who desired 
the preservation of peace, and their intercessions 
with the governor and council, as to the course ne- 
cessary to be pursued to secure the fidelity- of the 
Indians, were not duly regarded. Meanwhile the 
public mind paused, and dwelt upon the gloomy 
aspect of affairs. Every one believed that a crisis 
was rapidly approaching, and its arrival was await- 
ed with intense solicitude. At length, in the spring 
of 1755, information reached Philadelphia that the 
Indians in Virginia had commenced the work of 
destruction, and during the course of the year simi- 
lar tidings were received from the western and 
northern frontiers of Pennsylvania. The war- 



33 

whoop and shriek of the exasperated savage, were 
wafted on every breeze that came from the verge 
of civilization. Over the hitherto peaceful and 
distant settlements, the most fearful desolation im- 
pended, and the defenceless inhabitants fled before 
a fierce and merciless foe, seeking refuge among 
their brethren in the more eastern parts of the pro- 
vince. Here, too, pity and dismay whelmed the 
hearts of some, whilst a spirit of indignation and 
revenge was hurrying the minds of others to instant 
retaliation. Under the pressure of popular excite- 
ment, and without counting the awful cost of such 
an act, governor Morris and his council determin- 
ed to issue a declaration of war against the Dela- 
ware and Shawanese Indians. At this momentous 
conjuncture, a number of members of the Society 
of Friends, among whom were the Pembertons,the 
excellent Benezet, and others of distinguished re- 
pute, assembled to consider whether it might be in 
their power to render any service to their country 
and to humanity, in this hour of affliction. The re- 
sult of the conference was a belief, that if hostilities 
could be postponed, and a communication had with 
some of the chiefs, the terrible consequences of an 
Indian war might yet be averted. They, therefore, 
presented the following address to 

" Robert Hunter Morris, Esq. Lieutenant-go- 
" vernor, &c. : — The humble address of some of the 
'^ people called (Quakers, residing in the city of Phi- 
" ladelphia, on behalf of themselves and many 
" others : — 



33 

" With hearts sorely distressed and deeply affect- 
'' ed with the calamities of our fellow subjectSj and 
^"^ painfully apprehensive of the desolation couse- 
" quent of an Indian war, we address the governor, 
" and earnestly entreat thy favourable attention on 
'^ this solemn and important occasion, in which the 
" lives and liberties of the people of this province 
^' are so nearly concerned. We have, with the most 
" sensible concern and pain of mind, observed the 
^* sorrowful alteration in the state of this late peacc- 
'^ ful province, now become the theatre of bloodshed 
'^ and rapine, and distressed by the cruel devasta- 
^* tion of a barbarous enemy, which justly excites 
^' the most aggravating reflections in every conside- 
^^ rate mind ; yet, when we consider that all wars 
^' are attended with fatal consequences, and one 
^^ with enemies so savage as those who have now 
'^ become ours, with circumstances the most shock- 
** ing and dreadful, we cannot omit beseeching, that 
^^ before the resolution of declaring war against them 
^^ be carried into execution, some further attempts 
*^ may be made by pacific measures to reduce them 
^' to a sense of their duty, and that a further oppor- 
" tunity may be offered to such as may be willing 
" to separate from those who had been the wicked 
'* instruments of perverting them. The settlement 
" of this province was founded on the principles of 
" truth, equity, and mercy, and the blessing of Di- 
*^ vine Providence attended the early care of the 
<^ first founders to impress these principles on the 
"minds of the native inhabitants; so that when 



S4! 

" their numbers were great and their strength vastly 
"superior, they received our ancestors with glad- 
" ness — relieved their wants with open hearts, 
" granted them peaceable possession of the land, 
'< and for a long course of time gave constant proofs 
*^^of a cordial friendship; all which we humbly 
" ascribe to the iniinite wisdom and goodness of 
" God, ^ whose hand is for good upon all them that 
"seek him;' and as the angelic acclamations of 
" glor^'^ to Grod in the highest, peace on earth and 
" good will to men, with which the birth of our 
" Lord Jesus Christ was published, and the exam- 
" pies and precepts which he as the Prince of Peace 
'^ gave through the course of his personal appear- 
" ance on earth, have given us undoubted assurance 
" that the day is dawning in which his peaceable 
" reign will be exalted, and gradually become uni- 
"versal; we cannot, without neglect of our duty, 
" and sacrificing the peace of our consciences, which 
" we prefer to every temporal blessing, omit re- 
" viviug our testimony in this time of probation, 
" that all wars appear to us contrary to the nature 
'* and end of the gospel dispensation, and that we 
*< still firmly believe that on an humble and steady 
" acquiescence with the dispensations of Divine 
" Providence our real protection and security de- 
" pends, from which no temporal inconveniences 
" and diiBculties can justify our departing. Yet, 
" while we earnestly desire all may attain to this 
" happy experience, we do not presume to prescribe, 
" but as our minds feel more than our words can 



35 

•' express of pain and anxiety for our brethren and 
** fellow Christians whose desolation we fear will 
" be increased and perpetuated by a hasty declara- 
" tion of war, we find ourselves obliged to beseech 
" the governor to resume the most weighty, serious, 
" and religious deliberation on this melancholy oc- 
'^ casion, that so every measure which hath been 
'^ pursued, and whatever remains possible to be 
" done to prevent so fatal and lamentable an extre- 
" mity, may be strictly and impartially reviewed 
" and considered. That full inquiry may be made, 
" whether some apprehensions these Indians have 
'* conceived of a deviation from the integrity of con- 
" duct towards them, so conspicuous in the first 
" establishment of Pennsylvania, may not unhappily 
" have contributed in some degree to the alteration 
" of their conduct towards us : that full time may be 
"allowed for those Indians who still remain well 
'^ affected towards us, to use and report the effect of 
*^ their endeavours to reconcile our enemies, and 
" that proper care may be taken to prevent our allies 
" being, through the misconduct or evil dispositions 
" of any, injured in such manner as to provoke them 
^^ likewise to turn their arms against us; and, that 
" the governor's care to guard against involving the 
" innocent with the guilty, may carry so clear de- 
" monstration of Christian tenderness and aversion 
" to shedding blood, that an evidence may be given 
" to the minds of the other neighbouring Indians, 
" which may engage them heartily and sincerely to 
" assist in the desirable work of restoring peace 



36 

^^ and tranquillity, towards which all the measures 
^^ hitherto taken seem to have contributed little good 
" effect. We, therefore, with sincerity and ardency, 
^^pray, that the calamities may be averted which 
'* will ensue on a continued war with these savages, 
<^ some of the melancholy effects of which the an- 
" nals of a neighbouring province full of the most 
'^ warlike people, have testified ; and as the fear of 
^* God, love of our brethren and fellow Christians, 
" are the motives which engage us to make this 
'^ address, we ho|)e to demonstrate by our conduct 
^^ that every occasion of assisting and relieving the 
^^ distressed, and contributing towards the obtaining 
^* peace, in a manner consistent with our peaceable 
'* profession, will be cheerfully improved by us, and 
" even though a much larger part of our estates 
" should be necessary than the heaviest taxes of a 
*^ war can be expected to require, we shall cheer- 
" fully, by voluntary grants, evidence our sincerity 
" herein. May the mind of the governor be indued 
^^ with that wisdom which the wisest of kings ex- 
<* perienced to be ' better than weapons of war,' and 
'^ may thy councils be directed to the honour of 
" Grod, and good of the people, over whom thou 
" presidest, is our sincere desire and prayer." 

1 make no apology for having given entire this 
energetic and touching appeal, because it has never 
before been published. However much it may have 
affected the mind of the governor, when he was after- 
wards waited upon by some of the gentlemen who 
had signed it, he informed them that he had sub- 



37 

mitted their address to the council, who, with him- 
self, had notwithstanding resolved to proclaim war, 
as simn as some measures of precaution should be 
completed. 

Having, as they supposed, failed in their endea- 
vours with the executive, these benevolent men 
deemed it right to communicate their opinions and 
views to the assembly of the freemen of the pro- 
vince, to which body a memorial was presented of 
similar tonor with that sent to the governor. Thus 
affairs remained for a few days. During this inter- 
val, three or four chiefs of the Six Nations, and one 
of the Delawares, unexpectedly came to Philadel- 
phia, with whom a conference was held by some of 
the individuals before-mentioned, in the presence of 
Conrad Weiser, a confidential provincial interpre- 
ter, who had been long familiar with the Indians, 
and who gave it as his opinion, that these chiefs 
manifested more pacific dispositions, than he had 
for a long time before observed. The interpreter 
said to the Friends, *' my advice to you is to call 
^•' together as many of your ancient men, survivors 
•^^ of the first settlers, as you can collect, meet the 
^^ Indians again, repeat and enforce your first con- 
*^ versation, and present them with a l)elt of wam- 
'^ pum." This was accordingly done, and the go- 
vernor made acquainted with what had occurred; 
he was at the same time assured, that if he would 
advise and direct further proceedings it would be 
gratifying to the intercessors, who wished to do no- 
thing but what might be perfectly agreeable to him, 



in effectually prosecuting the great object in view ; 
and he was moreover told, that for prosecuting pa- 
cific measures he should be supplied with five thou- 
sand pounds by the private " subscriptions of the 
*^ members of their religious society.'' A media- 
tion was thus providentially acknowledged, and 
messengers dispatched to the Delaware and Shawa- 
nese Indians, who resided on the Susquehanna, 
bearing suitable communications, and affording an 
opportunity for ascertaining their disposition to re- 
store harmony. Israel Pemberton, likewise, imme- 
diately opened a correspondence with Sir Charles 
Hardy, Governor of New York, and Sir William 
Johnson, superintendant of Indian affairs for the 
North American colonies, informing them of the in- 
terposition of Friends in Pennsylvania, and solicit- 
ing their aid to accomplish the merciful object they 
had in view. From both those gentlemen he re- 
ceived assurances of hearty concurrence in their plan 
for restoring peace to the province. The agents 
who had been sent to Wyoming soon returned, with 
satisfactory accounts of the friendly dispositions of 
the Indians in that quarter, and brought with them 
speeches made on behalf of the Indians, at the coun- 
cil held at Teaogon. Paxinosa spoke thus — *^ The 
" dark clouds overspread our country so suddenly, 
" that we were all at once separated — the dark 
" cloud got in between us — but it has pleased the 
" Most High to remove it a little, so that we can 
"just see one another again. Our eyes are running 
*' with tears at seeing our country covered with your 



39 

*< blood and ours. Let me wipe the tears from your 
'^ eyes. As you came a great way and through dan- 
'< gerous places, where evil spirits reign, who might 
" have put several things in your way to obstruct 
"your business, this string of wampum serves to 
^* clear your miud, that you may speak, freely to 
^< us." After which. Teedyuscung, a Delaware 
chief, said — 

*^ Brother Onas, and People of Pennsylvania, 

" I rejoice to hear from you — that you are willing 
" to renew the old understanding, and that you call 
" to mind the first treaties of friendship made by 
" Onas, our great friend, who is dead, with our fore- 
" fathers, when himself and his people first came 
^^ over here. We take hold of these treaties with 
" both our hands, and desire you will do the same, 
" that a good understanding and true friendship 
^^ may be re-established; let us both take hold of 
" these treaties with all our strength we beseech 
" you, we on our side will certainly do it. 

<^ Brother Onas — What you said to us we took 
" to heart, and it entered into our heart, and we speak 
" to you from our heart, and we will deal honestly 
" with you in every respect. 

" Brother Onas — We desire you will look upon 
•^ us with eyes of mercy — we are a very poor peo- 
'* pie, our wives and children are almost naked, we 
" are void of understanding, and destitute of the ne- 
•' cessaries of life — pity us." 

Another deputation was soon after sent, and an 



40 

interchange of friendly sentiments took place be- 
tween the governor anil the tribes on the Snsque- 
hanna, by whose agency pacific overtures were also 
made to the Six Nations more remotely situated. 
In a memorandum book kept by the Friends of 
Philadelphia, whose interposition was so judicious 
and effectual, I find this record. '* From the time 
" of the first messenger's arrival at the Susquehanna, 
" the hostilities on our northern frontiers ceased, 
^' and an acceptable respite being obtained for our 
^' distressed fellow subjects, we enjoyed so much 
*' satisfaction and real pleasure, in this happy event 
" of our endeavours, as to engage us cheerfully to 
^^ pursue the business we had begun, though many 
*^ malicious aspersions were cast upon us, by per- 
<^ sons from whom we had a right to expect encou- 
" ragement and assistance." 

One of the objects of the message of governor 
Morris to the Indians, was a proposition for meet- 
ing their chiefs to treat of peace, which, being ac- 
cepted by them, the parties agreed to meet at Easton 
in the early part of the summer of I756. The few 
individuals who had been instrumental to accom- 
plish so much good in so short a time, determined 
to give such further attention to the subject as its 
importance merited — a subject to which they believ- 
ed themselves called by the highest obligations of 
duty, and regard for the public welfare. They were, 
moreover, informed that Teedyuscung, the king of 
the Delawares, had expressed to the governor's 
messengers, his own and the vs^ishes of his people. 



'^ that the Quakers, who had taken the first steps 
" toward the restoration of tranquillity, should at- 
^Hend the approaching treaty.^' In order to pre- 
pare for this, and other occasions that might arise, 
it was believed that considerable funds would be 
required, and it became necessary to increase the 
number of individuals engaged, and give a suitable 
designation to their proceedings. A meeting was 
therefore immediately called, at which many of 
their fellow members in religious society assembled, 
who agreed to some general principles of govern- 
ment, under the title of ^' The Friendly tdssociation 
(ijor regaining and preserving peace with the 
^^ Indians, by pacific measures.^'' Twelve hundred 
pounds were forthwith subscribed to .defray the ex- 
penses of attending with presents for the Indians at 
Easton, and in a few hours afterwards, upwards of 
twenty members of the association, deputed to the 
service, left Philadelphia for the treaty ground. Se- 
veral days elapsed after they reached Easton, be- 
fore the Council fire was lighted, and during the 
interval, several of the deputation ascertained that 
their presence was not grateful to the governor and 
his attendants. They were, however, men who 
could not easily be alarmed, or driven from their 
beneficent purpose, and after several interviews with 
the proprietary agents, their attendance was recog- 
nised, and the conference was opened in due form, 
by governor Morris and the native chiefs. Little 
further was done on the occasion, than an inter- 
change of assurances between the executive and the 



Indians, that hostile movements should cease on 
both sides, and that in the autumn a treaty should 
be held at the same place, for the full explanation 
and adjustment of the existing disputes. The In- 
dian king, on parting with the deputies of the asso- 
ciation, expressed his satisfaction at having their 
company, and begged their kind notice of them by 
attending future councils. In the latter part of the 
ensuing fall, a number of representatives of the as- 
sociation, went again to Easton, and, with the In- 
dians, awaited the coming of the newly-appointed 
governor Denny, who soon after arrived, and pro- 
ceeded to the interesting investigation which had 
been promised. After the appropriate Indian cere- 
monies were performed, one of the chiefs spoke ; he 
referred to the ancient treaties of their forefathers 
with the first emigrants to the province, and declar- 
ed their desire to renew the friendship, upon the 
same liberal and just basis. Several days were 
spent in preliminary discussions, and at length; 
king Teedyuscung, in a speech of much energy, 
ability, and fearlessness, portrayed the history of their 
wrongs, and demanded retribution at the hands of the 
governor. This unlooked for recital and requisition, 
alarmed some of the proprietary agents, and an effort 
was made to prevent any further elucidation of the 
subject, which, however, the intrepid and indig- 
nant chief at first resisted. The introduction of ar- 
dent spirits — the voracious appetite for their hunt- 
ing grounds — the evil conduct of the traders, and 
particularly the famous walking purchase ^ as it was 



43 

called, were the prominent topics of the king's dis- 
course; and these matters were brought home with 
such precision and effect, as to forbid denial or jus- 
tification on the part of those who were implicated. 
At a subsequent session of the council, the Indians 
were convinced, that for want of certain deeds, and 
other writings, which were in Philadelphia, a full 
understanding could not be had of some of the 
points in question, and they consented to refer the 
subject to a future time, requesting their friends of 
the association, to examine the public records on 
their behalf, to satisfy themselves of the truth of 
the assertions their chief had made. The treaty was 
closed after the customary presentation of gifts, and 
I quote from the manuscript notes of one of the 
most efficient individuals of the association, who 
was there, an interesting anecdote, which fur- 
nishes the strongest evidence of the nature of 
the relations which subsisted between the deputa- 
tion and the natives. " Teedyuscung, and most of 
'^ his people came to the ferry to take leave of us. 
" The king remarked to two of our company,* that 
" what had been said to him a few days before, 
" went to his heart, and brought tears into his eyes, 
" that he now found his heart affected in the same 
^' manner, (his speaking was interrupted by much 
" emotion,) when he added, that in the course of this 
^' business he had endeavoured to look up to God 
^^ for direction, that when he was alone in the woodsj, 

* If5rael Pemberton and Isaac Zane. 



44 

^^ and destitute of any other counsellor, he found 
"by doing so, he had the best direction, that he 
" hoped Grod would bless our endeavours, and de- 
" sired to be remeraijered by us when we were far 
" from him. He followed us to the boat, and was 
<' so much affected, he could only by tears express 
" his gratitude and respect, which, as it appeared 
** to be the effect of a divine visitation to a savage 
" barbarian, was a humbling scene, and excited re- 
" verent and thankful sentiments in the minds of 
" those who observed it." 

From the purest motives, the association continued 
devoted to the cause it had espoused, and on many 
subsequent occasions by furnishing liberal funds, 
enabled the assembly to hold treaties and make pre- 
sents to the Indians, which could not otherwise have 
been done, owing to the exhausted state of the pro- 
vincial treasury. At every conference with the na- 
tives, some of its members were appointed to attend, 
and on many occasions, great fatigue, exposure, and 
privation were endured, by travelling to remote 
points in a desert country, to fulfil those arduous 
duties. The sole purpose of all these labours was 
the peace of the province, and the association knew 
that this great result could only be speedily and cer- 
tainly attained, by satisfying the just demands of 
the Indians in paying them for their land. They 
well knew that this was the corner stone upon which 
Penn and their ancestors laid their claim to the re- 
gard of the natives. In a letter to governor Denny 
in 1757? they emphatically say, '^ This province 



45 

*^* was settled on terms very different from most of 
" the other colonies: the first adventurers were men 
" of substance and reputation, who purchased the 
*' land of the proprietary, and as he obliged himself 
^^ and his heirs, by an express covenant contained in' 
" their original deeds, to clear the land from all 
" titles, claims, and demands of the Indians, they 
'^agreed to pay an annual quit rent, more than suf- 
"ficientto enable him to satisfy the natives, and 
" obtain a peaceal)le possession of the soil. During 
" the lives of our first proprietary, and the first set- 
" tiers, we believe this was faithfully performed, 
^' and so large a balance remained towards making 
" further purchases as the settlement of the country 
^< increased, that any attempt to elude the original 
"intention and agreement of fairly purchasing the 
" land of the people who had a native right to it, 
"will ever be condemned by all impartial and ho- 
^^ nest men." 

Such were the wholesome truths which those ho- 
nourable politicians marshalled before the highest 
authority of the province — they asked for no more 
than common justice for the poor Indians, and they 
had a right to see this measure of justice adminis- 
tered, for the reasons assigned in their address to 
the governor. But these were unpalatable doctrines 
for the proprietaries, who, through their agents here, 
were by this time made acquainted with the ground 
which was taken by the association to sustain the 
claims of the natives, regain their friendship, and 
vindicate themselves. The case here was too pal- 



46 

pable to be denied, or availingly opposed. But the 
proprietaries who were in England, managed to bring 
the authority of the British government to crush if 
possible these advocates of the just rights of the In- 
dianS; as we shall presently see. A treaty being 
about to be held, a committee of the association in 
its uniformly respectful manner waited upon the go- 
vernor with an offer of its funds, and also to acquaint 
him that a deputation would attend as on previous 
occasions, if it met his approbation. To which go- 
vernor Denny replied, that expecting they would call, 
he had prepared a written communication, which he 
presented to them as follows : — 

" Gentlemen, 
" The proprie-taries have acquainted me that the 
'^ earl of Halifax has coramunicated to them with 
" very strong expressions of dissatisfaction, that a 
<' treaty was held with the Indians at Philadelphia, 
*^ and the people called Quakers, which his lordship 
" was pleased to think was the most extraordinary 
^^ procedure he had ever seen in persons who are on 
'^ the same footing only with all others of the king's 
'^ private subjects, to presume to treat with foreign 
" princes. And further, that as the suffering any 
" one part of the king's sulyects, whether of a differ- 
^^ ent profession of religion, or, however, else distin- 
" guished, to treat or act as mediators between a 
" province in which they live and any independent 
^< people, is the highest invasion of his majesty's pre- 
•**' rogative royal, and of the worse consequence, as 



47 

•' it must tend to divide the king^s subjects into dif- 
'^ ferent parties and interests, and by how much 
*^ more these, or any other body of people are suf- 
*^fered to attach the Indians to their own particular 
" interest, by so much the less must their regard to 
^^ people of other professions be. The proprietaries 
" have therefore directed me not to suffer those peo- 
'^ pie, or any other body or particular society in 
*' Pennsylvania to concern themselves in any treaty 
"with the Indians, or on any pretence to suffer pre- 
^^ sents from such persons to be given to the Indians. 
" or to be joined with the public presents at any 
'^ such treaty. These directions I shall conform to, 
^^ and my regard to you, as well as the proprietaries 
<^ instructions, lead me to observe, it would be pru- 
" dent in you to decline going in a body — your at- 
" tendance at treaties as a distinct society, having 
^' given great offence to the ministry, ^^ 

If proof had before been wanting to convince any 
reasonable man of the ungenerous dispositions of the 
proprietaries and their agents, toward the Indians, 
or of their determination to prevent the dispensation 
of equity and justice, even at the risk of savage war- 
fare and desolation, to the exposed inhabitants of 
the province, this extraordinary measure could not 
fail to put the matter at rest forever! 

Can it be believed, that without the direct interpo- 
sition to which I have alluded, the British ministry 
could have been induced to make so formidable an 
attack upon a few ancient and pacific men, in a 
remote colony, whose only aims were the promotion 



48 

of the welfare of its people? Certainly if the pro- 
prietaries had not meddled in this aflfair, his majesty 
and his ministers never could have dreamed of an 
invasion of the royal prerogative, and all the other 
frightful evils complained of, and, however much 
the fact is to be regretted, I am satisfied that the 
position originally laid down in regard to tlie pro- 
prietary feeling concerning the Indians, is fairly 
and fully established * 

* The magnanimous conduct of President Washington 
toward the Society of Friends, in a case similar to that which 
incurred the displeasure of the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, 
their agents, and the British ministry, is deemed worthy of 
record. In 1792, the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia was se- 
riously aftected, on account of th« war that had then for some 
time subsisted on the western frontiers, between the inhabi- 
tants of those parts and the Indians. This concern led to the 
presentation of an address to the president and congress of 
the United States, expressive of sympathy with the white peo' 
pie and Indians, who were suffering from hostilities^ acknow- 
ledging a continued sense of gratitude to the natives, whose 
forefathers cherished and assisted their ancestors in the early 
settlement of the country, and earnestly requesting that the 
cause of the uneasiness of the Indians might be investigated 
and removed. The address was respectfully received, and the 
president adopted measures to prevail on the Indians to hold 
a treaty the succeeding spring at Sandusky. A deputation of 
six members of the Society of Friends, accompanied the com- 
missioners appointed by President Washington, and after en- 
countering many difficulties, reached Fort Detroit, where they 
received a message from the Indians, that unless the Ohio ri- 
ver should be the boundary, they were unwilling to conferj 
and the commissioners, not being authorized to comply with 
their proposal, the treaty was frustrated, and tiie party return- 
ed without being able to effect the object of the mission. In 



49 

Notwithstanding the manifesto of the Earl of Ha- 
lifax, the association pursued the even tenor of its 
way^ and continued to employ ev ery effort to achieve 

1794, the Six Nations became discontented with the condi- 
tions imposed on them at tlie treaty of Fort Stanwix. In or- 
der to prevent an interruption of the tranquillity which had 
subsisted between them and the United States from the close 
of the revolutionary war, it \\'as agreed to hold a treaty with 
them at Canandaque, and Colonel Pickering was chosen sole 
commissioner on behalf of the United States. The Indians, as 
on the previous occasion, sent a request that some of the people 
called Quakers might attend, and a deputation of four of their 
members was appointed for tliat purpose, who waited upon the 
president and informed him of the proceedings of the society, 
which received his cordial upprobation. Provided with an ad- 
dress on behalf of their brethren, adapted to the occasion, and 
furnished with suitable presents for the Indians, the deputies 
proceeded to the treaty ground, where the negociation was be- 
gun and continued for forty-eight days. Tiie result of this 
conference was highly satisfactory to all Avho were con- 
cerned in it. On the last day, when the council fire was 
about to be extinguished, the deputation made a farewell ad- 
dress to the Indians, to which Farmers Brother, a chief of 
great distinction, thus replied on behalf of his people. 

" Brothers, ^ 

" We are very glad to see you. When we sent for you, 
•♦our desire was that you might sit by our sides, and atibrd 
"'your assistance to make a good peace. Last year we invited 
•"you to come to Sandusky; you willingly rose from youi 
"seat and came forward; you know how things turned out: it 
"was not the will of the Great Spirit that a treaty sliould 
•'take place at that time, yet we thank you because you so 
" willingly rose from your seat, and came forward so readily. 
•• We have manv times licard the voice of Onus, it wa? 



50 

its noble desis;ns. The assembly were afterwards 
repeatedly supplied with money from its treasury, to 
prosecute negociatioiis with the Indians, its funds 
were also applied under its own direction in furnish- 
ing the natives with subsistence and clothing, and 
some of their young people were instructed under 
its patronage in the arts of civilized life. Among 
other means of testifying its regard for the Indians, 
and that they should possess a memorial which 
might frequently remind them of the sincere and 
cordial dispositions of its members, the association 
had a medal struck with a device, representing an 
Indian and a European seated at a council fire, the 
latter pointing with the calumet, or pipe of peace 
toward the sun, near the zenith, the whole design 
being encircled with this beautiful sentiment, *' Let 
" us look to the Most High, who blessed our fa- 
" thers with jieace.^^ The execution of this medal, 
was the first attempt in that department of the fine 
arts in Pennsylvania. The dies, not highly finished, 
as may readily be supposed, were engraved by Ed- 

*' always good to us; we liave now heard it again, and what 
you have said is good. You have seen the writings by which 
" we are bound; you say you are not concerned in public af- 
" fairs, and that you think it will not be best for you to sign 
*' them; brothers, you have made our minds easy, and we 
"have no hard thoughts concerning you, because you do not 
"put your names to the writings. Brothers, the Great Spirit 
" gave this island to us; the white people have greatly increas- 
*'ed: there is no difference between the red people and the 
"white, they are all one, and ought to be brothers, and livr 
"in peace one with another.'' 



'^ttiaiirii 



51 

ward DiiflBeld of Philadelphia, and cost fifteeu 
pounds. At that time, the coining; press beine; un- 
known in this country, the dies were cut on punches 
fixed in a socket, and the impressions made by the 
stroke of a sledge hammer. 

The association existed for seven years, during 
wliich period, almost twenty thousand dollars were 
voluntarily contributed by its members, to defray 
the expenses incurred in the prosecution of its laud- 
able views, a sum which even now would be con- 
sidered liberal, but which, bestowed nearly three- 
fourths of a century ago, is entitled to be recorded, 
as a splendid benefaction. 

On taking leave of the distinguished philan- 
thropists, a brief notice of whose Christian labours 
has been thus submitted, a profound sense of grati- 
tude for their example and faithful services, is kin- 
dled in my heart ; an offering more ardent and pure, 
than any tribute that mere language can pay. 

Others have abundantly shown, that the Founder 
and lawgiver of Pennsylvania, and his associates, 
our honoured forefathers, were practically wise, 
and eminently successful, in giving refuge and rest 
to the oppressed of all nations — it has been my 
humbler task to prove, that they were also toward 
their benefactors, generous and just/ 



THE KXD. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 311 141 6; 



